Fidias Panayiotou, an independent Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Cyprus, has recently raised a question about the European Union’s apparent prioritization of support for Ukraine over Cyprus.
Elected in June 2024 as a 24-year-old YouTuber with no prior political experience, Fidias has leveraged his social media platform—boasting over 2.7 million subscribers—to engage with political issues, including this disparity in EU attention.
Cyprus, a small island nation with a population of about 900,000, has faced significant challenges since the 1974 Turkish invasion, which divided the country into the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north, recognized only by Turkey. This division has led to ongoing economic difficulties, limited growth potential, and a lingering unresolved conflict, often referred to as the “Cyprus problem.” Despite its EU membership since 2004, Cyprus has received relatively modest financial and political focus from the bloc compared to more recent geopolitical priorities.
Ukraine, by contrast, has become a focal point for the EU, particularly since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022. The EU has committed substantial resources, including a €50 billion aid package for 2024-2027, aimed at supporting Ukraine’s economy, military, and integration ambitions as a counter to Russian influence. This support reflects Ukraine’s strategic importance as a buffer against Russia and its proximity to NATO and EU borders, making it a geopolitical hotspot.
Fidias’ question likely stems from this contrast: while Cyprus struggles with a decades-old division and its associated economic fallout, Ukraine receives significant EU backing due to its immediate security implications for the continent. Cyprus, though a member state, is geographically and politically peripheral compared to Ukraine’s central role in the EU’s current security narrative. Additionally, the EU’s response to Cyprus has historically been cautious, balancing relations with Turkey—a NATO ally and EU candidate—while Ukraine’s crisis demands a more urgent and unified stance against an external aggressor.
Through his platform, Fidias has hinted at this disparity, possibly reflecting sentiments among Cypriots who feel sidelined. His approach—often polling followers on issues like this—suggests he’s amplifying a broader public frustration, using his independence to challenge the EU’s priorities without party constraints. Whether this gains traction in the European Parliament remains to be seen, but it underscores a tension between the EU’s internal cohesion and its external strategic focus.